Foundation for National Parks & Wildlife

Australia's only hibernating alpine marsupial, the Mountain Pygmy-possum, may become extinct as climate change threatens its alpine habitat in southern New South Wales and north-eastern Victoria.

The Foundation for National Parks & Wildlife, in conjunction with the Australian Geographic Society and Paddy Pallin Foundation, is fundraising for a captive breeding program to increase the population size of this endangered species. The program will also assess the ability of the Mountain Pygmy-possum to breed and maintain populations in warmer climatic areas.

The Mountain Pygmy-possum could be the first animal to be introduced in a different habitat by scientific breeding programs. Professor Michael Archer, from the School of Biological, Earth & Environmental Science at the University of New South Wales, said this project was vital and likely to be the only way to conserve the species.

"We cannot rely just on increasing the species population in alpine areas because climate change is already threatening this habitat. The Mountain Pygmy-possum was once much more widespread, so there are good reasons to believe they could still survive at lower altitudes and warmer climate" Professor Archer said.

Dr Linda Broome, from the NSW Department of Environment, Climate Change and Water, said that food supply in current habitats could also be affected because of drought, loss of habitat and agricultural pratices. In 1900 the Mountain Pygmy-possum population was estimated to be 2635 and by 2010 this number had been reduced to 2075.

The breeding captive program is a last resort effort to save the species from extinction. It sorely needs support and funds to ensure that the captive breeding facility, to be located at Secret Creek Sanctuary in Lithgow, is finalised by December 2011 to secure the future of Australia's unique Mountain Pygmy-possum.

"We need to try every possible strategy to save these possums from extinction," said Dr Broome.

For more information on the breeding captive program and how to contribute, visit the Foundation for National Parks & Wildlife's website, www.fnpw.org.au.